Method of coloring clay-ware



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I. G. HOTTINGEP.

METHOD OF COLORING CLAY WARE.

No. 446,683. Patented Feb. 17,1891.

(No-Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet-2. G. HOTTINGER.-

METHOD OF COLORING GLAY WARE. N0. 446,683. Patented Feb. 17,1891,

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 3.

G. HOTTINGER. METHOD OF COLORING CLAY WARE.

No; 446,683, Patented Feb. 17,1891,

v"? as I 1 amino STATltS PATENT, tries,

GUSTAV HOTTINGER, ()1? CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF COLORING CLAY-WARE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,683, dated February1'7, 1891. Application filed September 2, 1390- Serial No. 363,770. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, GUSTAV IIOTIINGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Methods of Tinting or Coloring Clay-\Vare, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to tinting or coloring clay-ware, such as bricks,terra-cotta building material, &c.; and the invention consists inintroducing into the kiln, preferably near the top thereof and adjacentto the side walls, a coloring or tinting agent, such as tar, and causingthe sameto spread over the side walls of the kiln, while steam isintroduced into the kiln, preferably toward the bottom thereof andadjacent to the side walls, whereby the coloring ingredients of the taror other agent are taken up by the moist atmosphere and distributedthroughoutt-he kiln, thus tinting or coloring the ware. This operationperformed, preferably, when the ware is nearing thefil'llSlllllg-POlllll and while the kiln is yet hot enough to volatilizetheliquid portions of the coloring agent, so as to secure a uniformdiifusion thereof and a thorough impregnation of the wares therewith.

My invention consists, further, in certain novel means for introducingthe coloring ingredient and moistening agent into the kiln.

In carrying out my invention, by preference I place the coloringmaterial in an elevated reservoir at the top of the kiln and connectsaid reservoir by a valve-controlled passage with theinterior of thekiln, the passage terminating near to the side walls thereof, so thatthe coloring agent, which will usually be in liquid form,will trickledown over the walls, and the moistening agent, preferably water, Iintroduce in the preferred construction into a chamber having a passageat the upper end thereof into the kiln and tap the bottom of the chamberby an overflow-pi pc,wherebyIa1n ableto maintain abodyof water int'hechamber while excluding the outside air,'and this water is convertedinto steam by the radiated heat from the walls of the kiln and thehighlyheated atmosphereinside thekiln. The overflow-pipe also preventsthe water from rising to the level of the passage and discharging intothe kiln. To secure the best results, I also construct the kiln in apeculiar manner,

the novelty consisting in causing the products of combustion used infiring to pass into the checker-work arranged inside the casing orexternal walls of the kiln, and thence through a passage formed by thearched top or dome and an internal arched wall to a vertical passageformed by the uptake-flue and an exterior annular lining, and thencethrough a horizontal passage formed by a shelf projecting outwardlyfromthe bottom of the uptake, around the edges of which the prod nets ofcombustion pass and finally escape through the uptake. The latter isprovided with a hinged cover, which is adapted to be packed with wetsand. A thorough dillfusion of the heat is thus secured, andconsequently the ware is burned to the same degree of hardnessthroughout the kiln.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section ofthe kiln, some of the parts shown in elevation and a section of theinterior wall broken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional plan viewbelow the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation.

In the drawings, Aindicates the base of the kiln, in which are placedthe fuel-doors covering niuflies.

B is the casing, and l) the arched dome or top.

l represents the checker work through which the products of combustionpass, and

an arch to provide between its top and the dome I) a passagcf for theproducts of combustion to a vertical flue formed by the annular wall Gand an uptakc-iluell. At the bottom of the uptake is a horizontal shelfI, dividing the space beneath the bottom of the baking-chamber K intotwo horizontal flues i 7:, through which the products of combustion passand escape through the uptake, the course being indicated by arrows inFig. 1. The usual pivoted cover L is employed, and it has the annularseat Z, adapted to be packed with sand.

At the top of the kiln and near the junction of the dome withthe-ichecker-work I locate reservoirs, one or more, which are marked M,having a valve M and a passage in leading from the valve-chamber to theinterior of the kiln and terminating near the side walls. In thisreservoir I place the coloring or tinting agent, which may be tar in aliquid form and either in the distilled or crude state. By manipulatingthe valve the tar is allowed to trickle down on the side walls of thekiln.

N represents a water-chamber communicating by the passage 0 with theinterior of the kiln, and in this chamber a body of water or othermoistening agent will be contained. \Vater will be delivered to thebottom of this chamber through the valve-controlled pipe 0, and anoverflow-pipe P, having its discharge end situated slightly below thepassage 01, is tapped from the bottom of the chamber. The verticalportion of the overflow-pipe will be provided with the valves Q R, theformer permitting the overflow to be regulated and the second thewithdrawal of the water from the chamber. The water-chamber, with itsaccessories, will preferably be located in the same vertical plane asthe reservoirs, and one or more may be employed.

When the ware has been subjected to the heat until such time as theburning is nearly completed, the valves will be manipulated to permitthe coloring agent to pass into the kiln, and then the water beingturned onit will be converted into steam, which will pass into the kiln,where it will become highly heated, owing to the temperature of theinterior of the kiln, and at the same time the volatile portions of thecoloring material will be released by the high temperature, and,combining Willi the moisture of the steam introduced, will permeateevery portion of the kiln, passing through the interstices of the wareand into the pores thereof, thus giving to the ware an even tint, theshade imparted when tar is used as the coloring agent being a blue,bluish gray, or dark brown, according to the color of the clay employedand the mixtures used.

I do not of course limit my invention to the coloring agent abovedescribed, nor to the exact means of introducing and volatilizing thesame, nor to the exact construction of the kiln, although I have foundthe best results to be attained with a kiln constructed as abovedescribed.

I claim- 1.. The herein-described method of tinting or coloringclay-ware, which consists in introducinginto the kiln after the burningof the v Ware is completed a coloring agent in a liquid form and in thepresence of a moistened atniosphere.

2. In means for tinting or coloring clavware, the combination, with thekiln wherein the ware is burned or baked, of a reservoir to contain aliquid coloring agent and communicating by a valve-controlled passagewith the interior of the kiln, and means for supplying steam to theinterior of the kiln.

In means for tinting or coloring clayware, the combination, with thekiln wherein the ware is burned or baked, of one or more reservoirslocated above the top of the kiln and communicating with the interiorthereof by a valve-controlled passage whereby to discharge a liquidcoloring agent into the kiln, and a water-chamber exterior to the kilnand communicating with the interior thereof by a passage leading fromthe top of the chamber, substantially as described.

4:. In means for tinting or coloring, clayware, the combination, withthe kiln wherein the ware is burned or baked, of one or more reservoirslocated above the top of the kiln and communicating with the interiorthereof by a valve-controlled passage whereby to discharge a liquidcoloring agent into the kiln, and a water-chamber exterior to the kilnand communicating with the interior by a passage leading from the top ofthe chamber, substantially as described.

GUSTAV llO'l" INGER.

\Vitnesses:

FREDERICK C. GooDwrN, C. G. LINTHICUM.

